NBA Playoffs 2012 - Western Conference Semifinals

(3) Los Angeles Lakers 1 vs 4 Oklahoma City Thunder (2)

May 22 - Oklahoma City. Kobe Bryant scored 42 points but he was mostly alone while Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and James Harden combined for 70 and the Thunder won 106-90 to finish this series 4-1 and advance to Western Conference Finals.

Pau Gasol started the game attacking strong and grabbing every rebound available but despite finishing with 14 points and 16 rebounds, he and Andrew Bynum combined for just 7 points in the second half.

With Kobe on fire the Lakers gave fight until the end of the third quarter but he started the fourth resting on the bench, watching how Oklahoma scored 8 consecutive points in a minute and a half, including 2 three-pointers by Durant. When he re-entered the game it was too late, the Lakers were trailing 77-91 and would never recover.

As it happened in the previous games the Lakers never found a way to slow down Westbrook or contest his mid-range jumpers. He scored at will and finished with 28 points. Durant added 25 and Harden 17 from the bench... - more...